September 17, 2017

I slept-in a little longer than I’d expected to this Sunday morning.

A long work week and a very early Saturday morning had apparently done me in. Since Guy and the boys were at a baseball tournament for TK, and Taylor had spent the night at a friend’s, I knew there was no way I, alone, could get all of the critters fed and make it to Sunday School in time. Since Sunday School is one of my favorite parts of a Sunday morning, and I also have a long weekend to-do list, I questioned, “To go, or not to go, to ‘just’ church?”

Being the only one home, it sure would have been easy to stay home from worship today, but I went.

If you know me well, you know that I generally find meaning in what some would consider a “coincidence”. This morning was a perfect example. I could have stayed home, but I would have missed out on so much!

You see, there’s this song, that I’ve only heard performed live one other time, many, many years ago by the same choir that performed it today. Since that first time, it has become one of my go-to, feel-good songs. With that, I knew, as soon as the piano began to play, why I was in church today. Hearing the choir perform this song, after such an exhausting week, was an experience. “River In Judea” is truly one of those songs that creates spontaneous applause for the feeling it invokes. Psalms 47:1 “Clap your hands for joy, all people! Praise God with loud songs!”

It was no coincidence that I DID decide to go ahead and go to church today. I needed that anthem. Just as surely, I needed to see and visit with the many people who I saw while at church; at Walgreens; at Braums; and at Friendship Inn. Folks and kids that put a smile on my face.

I also, eventually met up with our little lady for a lunch date, just she and I….discussing her Saturday. Friends, yesterday Taylor was selected for Regional Choir, Soprano 2, and we are so proud of her!

What a great decision, as always, to head to church, despite every bad excuse not to. As mentioned, it’s been a long week. Like most families with kids we’re B.U.S.Y! Our house, our yard, our barn…disaster areas. Our laundry….let’s not even go there. Yet, I know we’ve much to be thankful for, and my decision to go to church today provided even more blessings to count – the good people that I saw while in town, a great song to rejuvenate me for the week ahead, and alone time with my girl. What a great Sunday!

P.S. If you’re unfamiliar with “River In Judea”, search it on YouTube. I haven’t found a bad version of it yet, but the North Central College Choir version is my favorite.